China returns underwater drone to U.S. Navy in South China Sea rendezvous

China returned a U.S. Navy drone fished out of the South China Sea after accusing the Pentagon of spying in its disputed waters.

China returned a U.S. Navy drone fished out of the South China Sea after accusing the Pentagon of spying in its disputed waters off the Philippine Coast, officials said.

The drone, described as an unmanned underwater vehicle, was handed over to the USS Mustin during a rendezvous with a Chinese military vessel on Tuesday, near where it was captured 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in statement.

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He said the glider had been collecting data, including salinity, temperature and water clarity, for civilian contractors and was returning to the USNS Bowditch when the Chinese "unlawfully seized" the craft on Dec. 15, the statement read.

The USS Mustin picked up the U.S. drone after it was seized by the Chinese military. (AP)

"This incident was inconsistent with both international law and standards of professionalism for conduct between navies at sea," Cook said.

The international incident sparked tense U.S. relations with Beijing, and President-elect Donald Trump. The state-run newspaper, the People's Daily, accused the U.S. government of spying with the "infamous" USNS Bowditch vessel and hyping the ordeal as Trump accused the country of theft, vowed tougher economic policies against China and mispelled unprecedented.

Donald Trump told China they should keep the drone, accusing the nation of theft. (Evan Vucci/AP)